Hydrogen generators

Abstract

A pyrolytic hydrogen generator comprising a pressure vessel containing a plurality of cardboard receptacles for the thermally decomposable hydrogen generating material and an associated ignition system. Also, a modular pellet tray assembly for use in the generator comprises a plurality of trays having pellet holders and associated igniters and held in a stack by support rods that also provide electrical connectivity to the trays.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A modular pellet tray assembly for use in a pyrolytic hydrogen generator comprising a plurality of pellet holder trays mounted on top of each other by means of a plurality of support rods to form a stack, wherein each tray comprises a plurality of pellet holders and associated ignitors for igniting any pellets loaded, in use, into the respective pellet holders, and wherein the support rods also provide electrical connectivity within the stack. 
     
     
       2. An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the support rods provide the electrical connectivity to operate the ignitors. 
     
     
       3. An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the support rods form columns of support rods extending throughout the length of the stack. 
     
     
       4. An assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein each column is formed from a single support rod roughly the same length as the stack. 
     
     
       5. An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the assembly is formed from complete trays that include a set of pellet holders and a set of support rods that are roughly the same length as the pellet holders whereby the stack has been assembled by stacking each complete tray on top of the one below. 
     
     
       6. An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the support rods are received within conducting bores or channels located in each tray. 
     
     
       7. An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein pellet holders of the respective trays are aligned throughout the stack to form columns of pellet holders. 
     
     
       8. An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the pellet holders each comprise a cardboard housing. 
     
     
       9. A pyrolytic hydrogen generator comprising a pellet tray assembly according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       10. Portable equipment comprising a pyrolytic hydrogen generator according to  claim 9 .